Ladder



(N6 Model.)

R. DAVIS, Jr.

LADDER.

' Patented Aug. 9, 1 887.

lA/l/E/VTOR DW 7 lia'vfiwdill ATTORNEY BY 1 0Q. D.

. hinge-joint.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. DAVIS, JR, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,792, dated August. 9, 1887.

Application filed June 28, 1886. Serial No. 206,407. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM It. DAVIS, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of my invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a foldable ladder the sections of which can be arrangedto form a step-ladder or platform, as it is desired, and, when the sections are arranged in a line with each other, the ladder as awhole will be substantially as rigid as i it were not foldable.

Figure 1 is a vertical plan view of my ladder in two extended sections. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, forming a. step-ladder. Fig. 3 is a side, part vertical and part horizontal, view of my ladder in three sections, forming a platform. Fig. 4 is a side verti cal View of the contiguous ends of the rails of two sections, showing the mechanism of the Fig. 5 is an edge or side view of a bracket-platform, showing the means by which it may be attached-to the ladder at any point.

Like parts are indicated by similar letters.

. I make my ladder slightly tapering from the lower end upward, the ends of the rounds being inserted into the rails, and held in place by meansof the rods 1) and b, which bind the rails together by means of a head upon one end and a nut or burr upon the other, so that if a round breaks a new one can be conveniently inserted, and the whole can be readily taken apart for transportation or other purpose.

locked and unlocked in the positions desired,

I use upon one side of the rail and bolted thereto the straps a and a, each having an eye at the contact ends, at which pointsthey are bent outward slightly to enable the hinge to turn freely, and through which eye the connecting-rod passes, forming both a hinge and a bond between the rails. Upon the opposite side or edge of the rail I place the strap a, bolted to the rail of the lower section and extending upward, having a longitudi- 5 nalslot near its upper end, through which the half-disk-shaped head of the turning bolt (1 passes through the rail, its lower end being threaded to turn in a nut or burr embedded in the opposite edge, so that in forming the extended ladder, as shown at Fig. l, a half-turn of (1 looks the two sections firmly together. Both rails being thus provided, the lock becomes double, and the ladder may be made to assume any of the forms shown in the drawings. Several half-turns of the bolt (1 may be made in binding the strap 0 to lock the sections in line with each other, and thus render the joints between the section stronger than any other portion of the side rail thereof.

The braces which are to strengthen or support the ladder are preferably made so as to be attached, when needed, by means of a hook or hooks upon their ends and staples driven into the sides of the rails. To give still greater security, I point the ground ends of the rails, covering the beveled portion on the edge with a strap of iron to protect it.

The bracketplatform is a rectangular platformsupported by means of two iron arms bolted to its under side and extending from near the opposite ends of the same edge, terminating in semicircular hooks to clasp the rounds, and secured by a spring attached to the arm and extending to the end of the hook, similar to bridle and halter snaps, so called, and supported upon the other side by legs hinged to its under surface and extending downward at an angle to a round be- 0 low, which is received within the bifurcation at the ends of the legs provided to hold the legs in place.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a ladder, the combination, with fold- 5 able sections thereof, of a rigid slotted strap bolted to the side rails of one section and projecting over the side rails of the adjacent sections, and a bolt arranged in said adjacent In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my sections for rigidly connecting thestraps theresignature in the presence of two witnesses. to, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the rails of a sec- W'ILLTAM It. DAVIS, JR 5 tional ladder, of the hingestraps a, of the rigid slotted straps c, and the bolts (1, having heads Witnesses: adapted to pass through the slots of the straps, O. F. CALLAIIAN,

substantially as specified. ALLEN H ELLMVELL. 

